I love your takes on Fjord. I was wondering, do you think he views his relationships with the group as transactional?
With the group? Where we are at episode 103? Not at all. Not even remotely.
Reciprocity of kindnesses and favors rendered is not exclusive to transactional relationships. To give in return for receiving is just... a relationship. A transactional relationship is one where that act of receiving something in return for giving something is the end goal of the relationship itself. (Sidebar, transactional relationship not inherently bad actually! They’re perfectly sensible relationships with acquaintances and people who aren’t your friends, family, or otherwise close to you.) It’s when the relationship is entirely based on the idea of doing a favor for someone with the expectation that they will then return the favor—and there’s nothing outside of that.
Fjord does approach his relationships with the Nein with the intent to reciprocate and repay what they have given to him. But, again, that’s just gratitude. ALL relationships have an aspect of giving and receiving, and to repay someone’s kindness to you isn’t necessarily transactional, that’s just gratitude or friendship or even sometimes just decency.
There was a point at which Fjord approached many of the relationships in the group as transactional. I’d say the only real exception may have been Jester, as their relationship seemed largely built on companionship’s sake while they traveled. Consider the blood pact with Caleb over Dashila’s altar. Fjord easily agrees to help Caleb because Caleb has posed that he is here helping Fjord, and that one day Caleb may need help himself. A favor owed for a favor provided, blood and blood. Fjord likely expected all relationships with him to be negotiated on that basis because of how he was treated throughout his life, and so that’s where he starts with the individuals of the Nein—and it’s how he approaches relationships with basically every single NPC that crosses his path. (Again, not inherently bad to do.)
However, that was a very long time ago. For ages now, it has not felt like Fjord has expected what he himself gives must be repaid eventually.
Fjord may feel like he owes many debts to the group, but he never seems to believe that they owe him in return for what he’s offered and given. Fjord is, in the end, very giving of himself to his relationships in this group, and he rarely asks for or expects anything in return. All he’s really asked for is that they each pursue their best selves with sincere effort and to support one each in that endeavor. He wants them protected and kept, and he wants the opportunity to watch over them as they grow and to be allowed to see where they end up.
Yes, he believes that’s something they owe to each other, but that’s not a transactional thing at all. That’s just wanting everyone to flourish and to offer kindness and support to those around themselves. It’s simple selflessness and love and gratitude.
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